About Suzanne Verdal

Missing in Action

Many people have asked; who is Suzanne Verdal? Does She really exist? If so, is she still alive? Or, why did she choose to remove herself from social media & the public eye?

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself, to authenticate my identity, and finally emerge from self imposed absence from social media and other avenues of communication. I assure you that the statements and documents herein, long overdue, validate that I am in fact, the Muse behind the poem, later the song, “Suzanne”, penned by Leonard Cohen.

I am not Suzanne Elrod, Cohen’s former wife, nor the woman in Italy who “adopted” my name in the past, incidentally claiming that she was the muse behind the song “Suzanne” and appeared in a show performed by Peter Gabriel.

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In 1999 I suffered a serious accident from a fall causing a spinal fracture & multiple wrist fractures. This ended a decades long dance career and opportunities in massage therapy. Subsequently, unable to pay rent & with no savings, I lost my apartment and was forced to reside in the tiny wooden camper atop my ’82 Chevy truck, with four cats in tow.

After my separation from Armand Vaillancourt, sculptor, my professional name Verdal was given me, from Suzanne Vaillancourt to Verdal, by my former boyfriend, famed French poet and author Henri Pichette.

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Brief 60’s Glimpse Behind My Relationship With Leonard Cohen

Shortly after the start of my professional dance career, Leonard Cohen was already a celebrated Montreal poet.

He, and most artists of that time, frequented Le Bistro, a landmark café on rue de la Montagne. It was my favorite spot for espresso and conversational exchange with many artists who were well known, and later became famous.

Though never formally introduced to Leonard, we recognized one another in the crowd. He was usually seated with his girlfriend, Marianne Ihlen, at a small table alongside the wall at the back of the café.

Leonard and I engaged in few words. We were indeed on each others wave length. Often, strolling down Sherbrooke st. West, in silence.

About that time, he wrote the poem, “Suzanne Wears a Leather Coat”, which appeared later in the book, Parasites of Heaven.

On different occasions, we would either meet at Le Vieux Moulin, ľAssociation Españole, where I performed several times in Multi Media “Happenings”, with several other artists; (Jean Sauvageau, Dominique Macchia Godena, Claude Peloquin, Pierre Cornelier, and Serge Lemoyne).

After my separation with Armand Vaillancourt in 1964, I was the first known female artist to colonize Old Montreal, with my young daughter Julie. I loved the magic and history of the port, and chose to live in an 1850’s warehouse, formerly a rooming house for sailors, coming from the boats nearby. It was situated directly across from the Montreal waterfront, railroad tracks, and grain elevators. A stone’s throw away from my front window. This site is now an upscale boutique hotel.

Leonard heard I was living there, with the stained glass windows, and heavy wooden stairs, and came to visit more than once. As customary, I would serve either Jasmine tea, or Constant Comment, along with mandarin oranges and leechee nuts, from nearby Chinatown.

Leonard Cohen and I were lovers in a rarified soul connection. Not as lovers of the flesh …

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The stigma of becoming homeless in 2002, and the effects of ridicule by many whom I never met, or by journalists & others, who spun there version of my experience(s), barely, if ever, mentioning my contribution to the arts, or dance achievements, was unacceptable. Coupled by many years living on the streets in my vehicle by the Venice and Santa Monica Seaside, I went into hiding.

I can testify that my life has truly been one of “Rags and Feathers”, and I am grateful for the inordinate Grace and kindness of “strangers”. The many “heroes in the seaweed” that so helped to keep Hope alive!!

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After many years of self imposed exile, I now am in the process of writing a memoire, and continue to care for my many rescued cats.

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You may reach me through F.B. Messenger or the onsite contact form.